What would yo do if a celebrity ripped you off?

Question

A celebrity author ripped me off when I had just lost my beautiful 12 year old daughter Natasha to Cancer.

I had been in private & confidential correspondence with him and he infringed on my copyright (design and patents 1988 act singularity of letters)

He used part of my life and that of my family as a basis for one of his thriller fiction novels.

I promised Natasha before she died that, everyone possible would be able to read her life through my eyes within the pages of my autobiography. This author celebrity knew this and still produced his novel, which is what I call a fictionography of part of our lives and has made millions out of it.

If I was very wealthy I would have taken a law suit for copyright infringement against this celebrity author, but I am not, so unless you are a copyright lawyer who wants to take this on a no win no fee with a percentage basis payment for winning, please don’t bother to suggest this option.

Things I have already done and the results from doing them:


Corresponded with this celebrity author and his solicitors, bu-ls—t replies, followed by letters warning, demanding that I reply in writing to confirm that I will not infringe on his copyright or put anything out of his novel in my autobiography.
Result: Interesting, I did not bother to reply to this because my life-story is real and his novel he claims is fiction, if the two were to cross anywhere just who would be to blame for that NOT ME!. Lol (lol=laughing a lot) what arrogance!

I produced a screenplay of my life-story together with my American screenwriting partner Cathy Jourdan (love you Cathy if you are reading this) at the request of a film production company that wanted to produce it for the big screen. We WGA registered it before sending to the production company. The details were plastered all over the internet by the film production company at the time.
Result: The celebrity author came to some sort of mutual agreement with the film production company and the film production company dropped us. Take into account that for months the big gun of the film production company had been talking to Cathy and me every day on the telephone, sometimes for hours on end, and suddenly he cut us dead!!!!

I have talked about what this celebrity author did on radio openly, and have plastered the details all over the internet. I even have this celebrity authors name as one of my registered domain names under co.uk, yes he is British by birth, at the time of writing this checking out his name in Google my site is number 8 on the first page of results. I have even left details on his readers/fans sites so they can go and see what he has done.
Result: Book sales, queries by the bucket load, numerous reporters contacting me for the story, who then just didn’t follow up or come back to me as to why.
I sent a petition to no 10, Downing Street to try and get a law brought in to stop this from happening to other people like me.
Result: Reply letters from 10, Downing Street. They haven’t told me what they are doing about it, by all means write and ask them. If they try telling you they don’t know what you are on about I can send you a copy of one of their replies by email attachment. I have the proof of everything I tell you.

I have done a lot of other things but to tell you what they are I would have to name him here and I don’t want to do that.

I welcome your ideas/suggestions. Thank you

Answer 1

If he's famous enough, give the story to a UK tabloid.

I hope you are succesful, what he did was disgraceful

Answer 2

Well, if he's got the 'any resemblance to anyone living or dead' thing going on, then I doubt you have much of a case.

All the best writers and artists base their stories on real life, otherwise they'd suck, right? Most people would be thrilled to know that a bestseller was based on them, surely?

Have you written this autobiography already and got a book deal? What makes you think that it would be publishable anyway?

It is possible in this world for two books with a similar story to exist - especially when yours would be a real-life, blow-by-blow account instead of a work of fiction which would obviously have a different ending and different facets about it.

The best you could do is ask the author to add a dedication to your daughter's memory. But if you've already badmouthed him, then good luck!

Oh, and badmouthing the author just makes you look pathetic. Just for the record.

Answer 3

The very first thing i would do would be to contact a national newspaper and get them intrested nothing more that they like than a good scandel , then send his solicitors a letter telling them i had contacted a national newspaper and they were very intrested to let the world know what a piece of rubbish he is. That will get there and his attention , of course you must have some sort of evidence but even a small bit would work

Answer 4

I think you have two choices:
1) Remortgage your house and take the pig to court, but see a solicitor first to be sure this is not a "no win" situation.
2) Put it behind you and get on with your life or you will never get any piece. You seam totally consumed by this, which can be harmful to your health, and I'm sure your daughter would not won't anything to happen to you. Sheila.

Answer 5

You do not need to be wealthy for a law suit. The attorney will be paid by commission on what he wins for you.

I would definitely seek an attorney, or continue to write your own book, perhaps you need to check out an attorney in another field that is willing to take your case.( Your focus on one particular field may cause you not to see the trees thru the forest!) Just a
thought from a concerned parent.

good luck to you, and I am sorry for the loss of your precious daughter.

Answer 6

I'm really sorry to learn of your loss. The "celebrity" is the lowest of the low. As someone already suggested, I'd go to the newspapers with the story about your daughter and how you were ripped off. You have proof on your side. the very best of luck

Answer 7

I don't have an answer for you but I just wanted to say that I am very sorry that you lost your daughter. To have her life story ripped off then fictionalized must be doubly painful. If I knew who this author was I never ever buy any work of his.

Answer 8

Name and shame him in the tabloids, also write another story on your experiences up until you met this man who ripped you off and totally discredit him in your story, also seek legal advice as what he has done maybe illegal.

Answer 9

well it de pends who the person is and im so sorry 2 ear a bout your daurter and if i was u i would take it 2 the papers and sue them kk that is all i have

Answer 10

I suggest cops if you have your copyright papers. Or give the stoy to the media.I've seen what the media can do.